Clara Oza, Parent Coordinator/PS 343As the parent coordinator for PS 343 in Sunnyside, Clara Oza acts as a liaison between the school and parents. She runs workshops for parents and tries to involve them in school happenings. “We try...

Michael Capiraso, New York Road RunnersFor Michael Capiraso, president and CEO of the New York Road Runners, inspiring people to run is an important mission. The organization hosts races throughout the five boroughs nearly every weekend...

Robert Blatt, BlattWorldWhen a customer walks into BlattWorld, located at 60-18 Fresh Pond Road on the Maspeth / Ridgewood border, he or she is surrounded by a sea of cameras, equipment, cases and other technology. Owner...

Luis Guerra, Program Coordinator/PlayworksFor young students, recess should be a fun, playful time full of exercise and exploration. But that’s not always the case. For many, it has become a chaotic period where kids are getting hurt, left...

Jonnel Doris Director, Office of MWBERichmond Hill resident Jonnel Doris is passionate about creating opportunity and economic advancement for all New Yorkers. A Guyana native, Doris came to the country as an immigrant and opened his ...

Jen Chantrtanapichate, Cleanup North BrooklynBushwick resident Jen Chantrtanapichate had enough of private waste transfer companies taking advantage of the community. In spring 2015, she teamed up with area residents to create the nonprofit o...

Carol Scarano, Democratic District LeaderDistrict Leader Carol Scarano’s family has a long civic and political history serving the Astoria community. Her father, Ralph DeMarco, was also district leader from 1966 to 1977. He served as depu...

Carmen Velasquez, New York Supreme CourtJustice Carmen Velasquez of New York State Supreme Court made history when she became the first Ecuadorian to serve as judge for both Civil Court and Supreme Court. The Quito native, who moved to Q...

Seymour Schwartz, Briarwood Civic LeaderBriarwood’s Seymour Schwartz is so involved in civic life that it’s hard to keep track of everything he’s done. For more than two decades, Schwartz was the president of the Briarwood Community Asso...

Ann Bruno, 114th Precinct Community CouncilLifelong Astoria resident Ann Bruno was recently hailed as the “Mayor of Astoria.” The 89-year-old has served as president of the 114th Precinct Community Council for the last 27 years. She’s been ...

Deborah Kass, Brooklyn ArtistDeborah Kass’s work is seen in museums around the country, from Boston and Washington, D.C. to New Orleans and right here in New York City. A member of the New York Foundation for the Arts’ Hall of...

Jazha Thompson, Catholic Charities SYEP AssistantAt age 16, Jazha Thompson already knows she wants to be a professional basketball player when she grows up. The downtown Brooklyn native has been playing since she was a child. Growing up, she was ...